Wax compositions and the effect of metals on burn rates

Abstract

A wax composition is disclosed, comprising a hydrogenate natural oil with (i) at least about 50 wt % of a triacylglycerol component having a fatty acid composition from about 14 to about 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acid, about 45 to about 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acid and about 20 to about 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acid, (ii) a nickel content of less than 1 ppm, and (iii) a melt point of about 49° C. to about 57° C. The hydrogenated natural oil is filtered and/or bleached to obtain a nickel content of less than 0.5 ppm. A candle is also disclosed, comprising a wick and the above described wax.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A candle comprising a wick in a candle wax composition, the candle wax composition comprising:
 a hydrogenated natural oil composition having a melting point of 49° C. to 57° C., wherein
 the hydrogenated natural oil composition is one or more triacylglycerols, wherein the one or more triacylglycerols have a fatty acid composition of from 14 wt % to 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acids, from 45 wt % to 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acids, and from 20 wt % to 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acids, 
 the hydrogenated natural oil composition is at least 50 wt % of the wax composition, 
 the wax composition has a nickel content of less than 0.5 ppm, and 
 every triacylglycerol in the wax composition contains exactly one glycerol and exactly three carboxylic acid groups, each of which is esterified to the glycerol. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition has a melting point of 51° C. to 55° C. 
     
     
       3. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition is at least 75 wt % of the candle wax composition. 
     
     
       4. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition is at least 90 wt % of the candle wax composition. 
     
     
       5. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the candle wax composition has a nickel content of 0.05 ppm to 0.5 ppm. 
     
     
       6. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the candle wax composition has a nickel content of 0.05 ppm to 0.2 ppm. 
     
     
       7. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more triacylglycerols have a fatty acid composition of from 15 wt % to 20 wt % C16:0 fatty acids, from 50 wt % to 57 wt % C18:1 fatty acids, and from 23 wt % to 27 wt % C18:0 fatty acids. 
     
     
       8. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated natural oil composition has less than 1 wt % free fatty acids. 
     
     
       9. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the natural oil is canola oil, rapeseed oil, coconut oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, linseed oil, palm kernel oil, tung oil, jatropha oil, mustard oil, camelina oil, pennycress oil, castor oil, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       10. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrogenated oil composition comprises hydrogenated soybean oil having an iodine value of 60 to 70. 
     
     
       11. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more triacylglycerols have an iodine value of from 45 to 60. 
     
     
       12. The candle of  claim 1 ,
 wherein
 the hydrogenated natural oil composition is a blend of hydrogenated soybean oil and hydrogenated palm oil in a weight ratio of 70:30 to 90:10. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel that is removable via treatment with bleaching clay, phosphoric acid, citric acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or malic acid. 
     
     
       14. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel that adsorbs on to bleaching clay. 
     
     
       15. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel that forms a complex with phosphoric acid, citric acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or malic acid. 
     
     
       16. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel catalyst and contains less than 0.5 ppm residual nickel inorganic complex. 
     
     
       17. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel soap. 
     
     
       18. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel that is removable via treatment with an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid, citric acid, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid or malic acid. 
     
     
       19. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the wax composition is free of nickel that is removable via treatment with bleaching clay B80 at 80° C. under vacuum for 15 minutes. 
     
     
       20. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein the natural oil is nickel-hydrogenated plant oil. 
     
     
       21. The candle of  claim 1 , wherein every triacylglycerol in the wax composition contains exactly three fatty acid residues. 
     
     
       22. A candle wax composition comprising:
 a hydrogenated natural oil composition having a melting point of 49° C. to 57° C., wherein
 the hydrogenated natural oil composition is one or more triacylglycerols, wherein the one or more triacylglycerols have a fatty acid composition of from 14 wt % to 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acids, from 45 wt % to 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acids, and from 20 wt % to 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acids, 
 the hydrogenated natural oil is at least 50 wt % of the wax composition, and 
 the wax composition has a nickel content less than 0.5 ppm nickel, and 
 every triacylglycerol in the wax composition contains exactly one glycerol and exactly three carboxylic acid groups, each of which is esterified to the glycerol. 
 
 
     
     
       23. A candle comprising a wick in a candle wax composition that comprises triacylglycerols of one or more natural oils, wherein:
 at least one of the natural oils is nickel-hydrogenated; 
 the triacylglycerols are at least 50 wt % of the wax composition; 
 the wax composition has a melting point of 49° C. to 57° C.; 
 the wax composition has a nickel content less than 0.5 ppm; 
 the wax composition has a fatty acid composition of from 14 wt % to 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acids, from 45 wt % to 60 wt % C18:1 fatty acids, and from 20 wt % to 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acids; and 
 the fatty acid composition consists of fatty acyl chain lengths that are the same as the fatty acyl chain lengths of the natural oils. 
 
     
     
       24. A candle wax composition, comprising triacylglycerols of one or more nickel-hydrogenated natural oils, wherein:
 the triacylglycerols are at least 90 wt % of the wax composition; 
 the wax composition has a melting point of 49° C. to 57° C.; 
 the wax composition has a nickel content less than 0.5 ppm; 
 the wax composition has a fatty acid composition of from 14 wt % to 25 wt % C16:0 fatty acids, from 50 wt % to 57 wt % C18:1 fatty acids, and from 20 wt % to 30 wt % C18:0 fatty acids; and 
 the fatty acid composition is the same as a blend of hydrogenated soybean oil and hydrogenated palm oil in a weight ratio of 70:30 to 90:10. 
 
     
     
       25. The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the fatty acid composition is the same as a blend of hydrogenated soybean oil and hydrogenated palm oil in a weight ratio of 70:30 to 90:10. 
     
     
       26. The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the fatty acid composition has fatty acyl chain lengths that are 14 carbons atoms or less, 16 carbon atoms, 18 carbon atoms, or a mixture thereof. 
     
     
       27. The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the natural oils are plant oils. 
     
     
       28. The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the natural oils are nickel-hydrogenated plant oils. 
     
     
       29. The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the fatty acid composition is the same as a mixture of hydrogenated soybean oil and hydrogenated palm oil. 
     
     
       30. The candle of  claim 23 , wherein the fatty acid composition consists essentially of C16 and C18 fatty acids.